Apparatus and method for fabricating a container

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for folding railway hopper car sides in a curved relation about transverse bulkheads for welding by welders supported on collapsible scaffolds within the hopper car, which also hold the bulkheads in position for welding. Rollers are mounted on carriages on vertical frames and the height of each carriage is manually controlled by the welder. The rollers are positioned on the outer surface of the car sides directly opposite the position along the bulkheads being welded. The rollers exert pressure against the car sides to press the car sides tightly against the curved bulkheads when the bulkheads are being welded to the sides.

[ 1 Feb.27,1973

United States Patent Evans 3,009,201 ll/l96lHansen...............................72/2l5X 2,679,278 5/1954 Clark72/2l7X Florissam, Primary Examiner-William i-l. Beha, Jr.

Attorney-Samuel J. Snyder and Eugene N. Riddle [73] Assignee: ACFIndustries, Incorporated, New

York, NY. ABSTRACT Apparatus and method for folding railway hopper carsides in a curved relation about transverse bulkheads for welding bywelders supported on collapsible scaf- [22] Filed: June 9, I971 [2]]Appl. No.: 151,395

folds within the hopper car, which also hold the bulkheads in positionfor welding. Rollers are mounted on carriages on vertical frames and theheight of each carriage is manually controlled by the welder. Therollers are positioned on the outer surface of the car 77. 9 40 9 1/1932874 [2 i n w l. 2 2 u w IU/ 9M7 7 9.. 4 02] I2 9 .16 ZIHQJMI s6k ,8 455 2 9 4.] 1B 89 92 l n 2 2m m m u I I C l o mu k U IF 1 1] 2 8 5 55 .l.l.

sides directly opposite the position along the bulkheads being welded.The rollers exert pressure against Rehrenc" the car sides to press thecar sides tightly against the UNITED STATES PATENTS curved bulkheadswhen the bulkheads are being welded to the sides. 3/1968 2/1938 712/21536 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures 3,374,528 Bowcutt et al. 2,108,27lSamuel...............

3,094,958 6/1963 Gruetjen 3,373,594 3/1968 Lane pmmmrmzmrs 3 SHEET 1 or7 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. EVANS;

.. gm as? ATTORNEY PATENTEUFEBZWB 3,718,803

SHEET 2 [IF 7 APPARATUS AND METI'IGD FOR FABRICATING A CONTAINER SUMMARYINVENTION A preassembly of the hoppers, bulkheads, and end floorsections of a covered hopper car is assembled with the car sides inalarge steel frame structure. Hoists on the frame structure areadaptedtodrop a foldable or collapsible scaffold into each hopper forsupporting one or more welders. Vertical frames or racks are disposed onthe outer side of each car side. Hydraulic pressure cylinders move andfixedly hold the racks against the car sides, and pneumaticcylinder'pushers disposed along the side sills on the bottom of the carsides press the side sills against the bulkheads. Rollers on thevertical racks resiliently but tightly press the ear sides against thebulkheads as the rollers are raised by :steel frame structure .to itsnext assembly position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is-a top plangeneral view'o'fa-car assembly arrangement according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line2--2 of'F-IG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view takenalong line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG.4 is a front-plan of one'end rack. FIG. 5 is a partial side view ofan end-rack. v FIG. 6 is afront planof'an'intermediate rack. FIG. 7 is aside view of a frame and its rack.

FIG.- 8 is a side view of the scaffolds and their as- 'sociatedstructures, with'the retracted position of the scaffolds shown-indashed'lines. v

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged views of portions of th scaffolds.

FIG. 1 1 is a side view'of'one: of the side sill pushers.

FIGS. 12 and 14 are diagrams of portions of the hydraulic circuits. I

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating thecontrolof one of the rollers.

FIGS. 15 and 16-are schematics ofportions of the air pressure supplyapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT Assembly andwelding ofmajorportions of a hopper carh'aving curved sidesareperformed in asteelframe structure- 10 having "six rectangular sub-frames 12.

.Eachsub-frame includes vertical beams 13, 14 and horizontal beams 15,-16, :partly imbeddedrin areinforc'edconeretefloor 1.8. Longitudinalbeams 20 and suitable strengthening members22 tie sub-frames 12together. Three intermediate roller supported racks 24, 25,26 and twoend racks 27, '28 are-arrangedralong eachside, of the carbody.-Racks24to '26 are connected-to fixed" frames 32, 33 by four toggles34, 35 on each'frame. These togglesare opened and closed by hydrauliccylinders 36, 37. On the floor are tracks 38 for dollies (not shown) oneither side of a pit 39.

Scaffolds 40, 41 are supported by chains 42 connected to long beams 43and raised and lowered by hoists 44 having cables 46 connected to thelower portions of the scaffolds. The scaffolds are formed by a number ofpivotally connected sections 48-53 and bifurcated sections 54 adapted toslip over bulkheads 56, to hold them in place when scaffolds 40, 41 arelowered into operative position. Horizontal sections 50 are providedwith floor boards 58 for supporting a worker so as to enable him to weldbulkheads 56 and end plates 60, 61 to car sides64, 66. Whenthe'collapsible scaffolds are raised to position 62, they fold generallyin the manner indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 8. The hoppers areformed by end plates 60, 61, slope sheets 63 and carsides 64, 66.

Car sides 64, 66 have side sills 67, 68 and upper reinforcing members69, 70, and are brought in suspended from an overhead crane (not shown)adapted to ride on rails 72. Four clamps 76 .at spaced points along eachside sill 67, 68 includepushers 78 having a contour 80.

matching the sills. Pushers 78 are pivotally mounted on piston rods 82extending into air cylinders 84'fixed to frame structure 10. Alignmentand support bars 86 may be fixed to pushers 78 and journaled in sleeves88.

Intermediate racks 24-26 include a frame 90 having rollers 92. Carriageassembly 94- includes plate 96 having pulleys 97, 98 for a rope or cable99 of hoist 100. Assembly 94 includes three roller units each havingsides 101', 102 connected by rotatable rods 103406. Crank 108 is pivotedat 110, has a pressure roller 112, and is connected to piston rod. 114of air cylinder 116. Thus, carriage assembly 94 is moved up by hoist100, and rollers 112 are pressed against side sheets 64, 66 when pistonrods 114 move downward. The lower portions of racks 24-26 each have twoside sill clamps 117, 118, similar to clamps 76, and including a pusher120 and air cylinder 123.v v

-End racks 27, 28 are generally similar to intermediate racks-24-26,-being' mounted on rollers 130,

having three air-pressure operated side sill pushers 132 ment withbottom end plates 60 and 61. The toggles'for moving end racks 27and 28are operated by hydraulic cylinders 154 and 156. A

Referring to FIG; 13, rollers 1.12 and 137 on both sides of the car areoperated individually by control switch pendants in scaffolds 40, 41.Air cylinder 116 iscontrolled 'by-solenoid valve 162 having vents 163,164 and connected to air line 165. The power circuit for solenoid166includes a source of power (not shown) in series with pendant switch160, so that, upon the closure of this switch, valve 162 admitscompressed air to the top of air cylinder 1 16 to move roller 1 12outwardly. When the solenoid circuit is opened and the valve moves toits other position, air pressure is applied intermediate racks 24-26 isshown schematically in FIG. 12, and a similar circuit for cylinders 154,155 of two end racks 27, 28 is shown in FIG. 14. A similar circuit forthe other two end racks on the other side is provided. Reversible fluidflow is provided by any suitable high pressure sources 156, 157, whichmay include gear pumps. The hydraulic cylinders are connected inparallel, so that the upper and lower toggles of all intermediate racks24-26 move in unison, and the upper and lower toggles of end racks 27and 28 also move in unison. Since the hydraulic liquid isincompressible, the racks remain firmly fixed in their extendedpositions.

Circuits for supplying air pressure are shown in FIGS. and 16. Asalready mentioned, cylinders 116 for moving rollers 112 are controlledby solenoid valves 162 from air supply line 165. Another air line 201supplies air pressure to cylinders 123 through solenoid valve 202, whichis designated P to indicate that it is controlled at a central switchpanel, in contrast to W solenoid valves, which are controlled by thewelder 'on the scaffold. It will be noted that the pusher or clampactuating cylinders 123 are controlled in unison, while roller actuatingcylinders 116 are controlled individually. FIG. 16 shows that cylinders135 and 146 are controlled by welder operated solenoid valves 206individually, and side pusher actuating cylinders 133 are controlled bya single switch panel operated valve 204.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The hoppers, bulkheads and side assemblies 64, 66

are brought into place in structure 10. Scaffolds 40 and 41 areloweredinto position with portions 54 thereof spanning partitions 56 to holdthem in place. Lower side sills 67, 68 are then pushed in bypressurizing the four pushers 76 on each side. This is done byenergizing a solenoid valve (not shown) associated with each aircylinder 84 in the same manner as are solenoids P in FIGS. 15 and 16.Hydraulic cylinders 36, 37 are then pressurized to expand toggles 34, 35and thereby move racks 24-28 against side assemblies 64, 66. Aircylinders 123 and 133 are then pressurized through solenoid valves 202and 204 to force clamps or pushers 120 and 132 against side sills 67,,68. Then hoists 100 are operated individually by each worker on one ofthe scaffolds to raise carriage assembly 94 or 134, and rollers 112 and137 are moved against side assemblies 64, 66 by pressurizingcylinders116 and 135. On racks 24-26 the center roller 112 only is firstmoved against the side sheet 64 or 66 and brought about half way upwhile that side sheet is tack welded to a bulkhead 56. Then carriageassembly 94 is lowered, all three rollers of the roller carriage areforced against the side sheet and the carriage assembly is raised whilethe side sheet is continuously welded to the bulkhead from bottom to topwith welds about 6 inches long with 6-inch gaps, the final continuouswelds being made at another station. On end racks 27 and 28 pushers 142and 144 are pressed against side sheets 64, 66 by air cylinders 146,148, controlled by solenoid valves 206, and the side -car body is thenplaced on dollies (not shown) on tracks 38 for movement to the nextstation.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for fabricating the body of a railway hopper car by formingflat side sheets into curved sides and pressing them against transversebulkheads having similarly curved edges during welding, comprising anopen fixed frame structure; means on said structure for placing thehoppers and bulkheads of said car in properly aligned and spacedpositions; a plurality of collapsible scaffolds; hoists on said framestructure for positioning said scaffolds between the bulkheads, saidscaffolds being dimensioned to position and hold the bulkheads in place;a plurality of vertical racks along the outside of each side sheet;fluid pressure means for moving the racks inwardly; a carriage on eachrack and a horizontal roller on each carriage; means for moving saidrollers inwardly to press the side sheets against the edges of thebulkheads; means for moving said carriages vertically with the rollerspressed against the side sheets; and means at each scaffold forcontrolling the vertical movement of said carriages; means for pressingside sills on the lower edges of the side sheets against the bulkhead,whereby upon upward movement of the rollers the side sheets are tightlypressed against the curved edges of the bulkheads for welding thereto bya welder on the scaffold.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rollers are pressedagainst the side sheets resiliently by air pressure operated means topermit the rollers to yield as they traverse the curved side sheets.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for moving saidracks and rollers, respectively, are capable of retracting said racksand rollers.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said racks include means forclamping the side sills against the bulkheads.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said racksincludes three horizontally aligned rollers, one of said rollers beingopposite a bulkhead, and the others being on either side of thebulkhead.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scaffolds include aplurality of pivotally connected members arranged to fold together whenlifted by the hoists.

7. Apparatus for forming a railway hopper car having curved sides fromflat sheets having bottom side sills and welding them to transversebulkheads having similarly curved edges, comprising an open rectangularfixed frame structure for housing the hoppers and bulkheads of said carin properly aligned and spaced positions; a plurality of vertical racksalong the outside of each car side; fluid pressure means for moving theracks inwardly; a carriage on each rack in alignment with each bulkheadand a horizontal roller on each rack; air pressure means for moving saidrollers inwardly to press the side sheets against the curved bulkheads;means for moving said carriages vertically with the rollers pressedagainst the side sheets; and means for individually controlling thevertical movement of said carriages, whereby upon upward movement of therollers the car sides are tightly pressed against the curved edges ofthe bulkheads for welding thereto.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, including welder support means andmeans for positioning said support means between adjacent bulkheads andmoving said support means vertically.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for controllingthe vertical movement of the carriages is adjacent saidsupport means foraccessibility to a welder thereon.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, including fluid pressure actuatedclamps at opposite sides of said frame structure and means for actuatingsaid clamps in unison for pressing the side sills into their assembliedposition. 1

11. A method of fabricating the body of a railway hopper car having aplurality of hoppers, bulkheads between the hoppers, and sides which arecurved in the vertical direction, comprising placing flat side platesadjacent the bulkheads on either side thereof, each side plate having aside sill along'the" bottom edge thereof and a support plate along thetop "edge thereof, simultaneously clamping the side sills" at both sidesagainst the bulkheads, tightly pressing a roller against the outer sideof a side plate and moving the. roller vertically along the edge ofabulkhead while welding that bulkhead to the side plate pressedthereagainst, whereby the side plates are folded into conformity withthe bulk heads and fixed thereto.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein three aligned rollers arepressed against the side plates at each bulkhead, a'first of saidrollers spanning a bulkhead and the other two rollers being located oneither side of the first roller.

' .13.The method of claim 12, wherein said rollers are resilientlypressed against the side plates.

14. The method according to claim' 11, including the I step of loweringscaffolds into the hoppers for supporting welders thereon, the movementof said rollers being controlled individually by the welders on thescaffolds.

15. The method according to claim 14, including the step of holding thebulkheads properly spaced by means of the scaffolds.

16. The method according to claim 15, including the step of collapsingand lifting the scaffolds out of the car body to facilitate its removal.

17. Apparatus for fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure and spaced apart sides comprising:

A. frame structure housing generally vertical guide means spacedoutwardly from said transverse structure on at least one side thereof;

B. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on at least one ofsaid guidemeans; C. means for moving said guide means inwardly adjacentsaid transverse support structure;

D. means for moving said roller inwardly to press a sheet which at leastpartially defines one of said apaced apart sides into engagement with aportion of said transverse support structure;

E, means for moving said roller vertically along said generally verticalguide means with said roller pressed against said sheet whereby upongenerally vertical movement of the rollers said sheet is tightly pressedagainst said transverse support structure;

F. and means for welding said sheet to a portion of said transversesupport structure.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 including at least one scaffoldmounted for vertical movement within said transverse support structure.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 including means for holding at leastone reinforcing member in engagement with at least one of said sheets.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 including means for holding at leastone additional reinforcing member in engagement with at least one ofsaid sheets.

21. Apparatus for fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure and spaced apart sides comprising:

I A. frame structure housing generally vertical guide means spacedoutwardly from said transverse structure on both sides thereof;

13. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on at least one ofsaid guide means;

C. means for moving said guide means inwardly adjacent said transversesupport structure;

D. at least one scaffold mounted for vertical movement within saidtransverse support structure;

E. means for moving saidroller inwardly to press a I sheet which atleast partially defines one of said spaced apart sides into engagementwith a portion of said transverse support structure;

F. means for movingsaid rollers vertically along said generally verticalguide means with said roller.

pressed against said sheet whereby upon generally vertical movement ofthe roller said sheet is tightly pressed against said transverse supportstructure; 3

G. and means for welding said sheet to a portion of said transversesupport structure.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 including means for holdingat leastone reinforcing member in engagement with at least one of said sheets.

23. Apparatus for fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure with curved edges and spaced apart sides comprising: I I

A. frame structure housing generally vertical guide means spacedoutwardly from said transverse structure on at least one side thereof;

B. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on at least one ofsaid guide means;

C. means for moving said guide means inwardly adjacent said transversesupport structure;

D. means for moving said roller inwardly to press a sheet which at'leastpartially defines one of said spaced'apart sides into engagement with atleast a portion of at least one of said curved edges;

E. means for moving said roller vertically along said generally verticalguide means with said roller pressed against said sheet whereby upongenerally vertical movement of the roller said sheet is tightly pressedagainst at least one of the curved edges on said transverse supportstructure;

F. and means for welding said sheet to a portion of said transversesupport structure.

24. Apparatus for fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure and spaced apart sides comprising:

A. frame structure'housing generally vertical guide means spacedoutwardly from said transverse structure on both sides thereof;

B. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on at least one ofsaid guide means;

C. means for moving said guide means inwardly adjacent said transversesupport structure;

D. at least one scaffold mounted for vertical movement within saidtransverse support structure;

E. means for moving said roller inwardly to press a sheet whichpartially-defines one of said spaced apart sides into engagement with aportion of said transverse support structure;

F. means for urging at least one reinforcing member in engagement withsaid sheet;

G. means for moving said roller vertically along said generally verticalguide means with said roller pressed against said sheet whereby upongenerally vertical movement of the roller said sheet is tightly pressedagainst said transverse support structure;

H. and means for welding said sheet to a portion of said transversesupport structure and for welding said reinforcing member to said sheet.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23 including means for holding at leastone additional reinforcing member in engagement with said sheet andmeans for welding the same to said sheet.

26. Apparatus for fabricating a railway car having curved sides andtransverse bulkheads comprising:

A. frame structure housing the bulkheads and side sheets for said car inproperly aligned and spaced positions;

B. generally vertical guide means spaced from said bulkheads on at leastone side thereof;

C. means for moving said guide means inwardly;

D. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on said guidemeans; 7 v

E. means for moving said roller inwardly to press said sheets againstsaid bulkheads;

F. means for moving said roller vertically, whereby upon generallyvertical movement of the roller the car sides are tightly pressedagainst the bulkheads for welding thereto.

27. Apparatus for fabricating a railway car having curved sides andtransverse bulkheads comprising:

A. frame structure housing the bulkheads and side sheets for said car inproperly aligned and spaced positions;

B. scaffold means mounted for vertical movement within said bulkheads;

C. generally vertical guide means spaced from said bulkheads on bothsidesthereof;

D. means for moving said guide means inwardly;

E. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on said guidemeans;

F. means for moving said roller inwardly to press said sheets againstsaid bulkheads;

G. means for moving said roller vertically, whereby upon generallyvertical movement of the rollers the car sides are tightly pressedagainst the bulkheads;

H. means for moving said scaffold vertically with said rollers pressedagainst the side sheets;

I. and means for individually controlling the vertical movement of saidscaffold whereby upon generally vertical movement of the roller the carsides are tightly pressed against the bulkheads for welding thereto.

28. Apparatus for fabricating a railway car having hoppers, curved sidesand transverse bulkheads comprising:

A. frame structure housing the bulkheads and side sheets for said car inproperly aligned and spaced positions;

B. scaffold means mounted for vertical movement within said bulkheads;

C. generally vertical guide means spaced from said bulkheads on bothsides thereof;

D. means for moving said guide means inwardly;

E. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on said guidemeans;

F. means for urging at least one support member into thereto;

G. means for moving said rollers inwardly to press said sheets againstsaid bulkheads;

H. means for moving said scaffold means vertically with said rollerspressed against the said side sheets;

I. means for individually controlling the vertical movement of saidscaffold means, whereby upon generally vertical movement of the rollersthe car sides are tightly pressed against said bulkheads;

.I. and means for welding said sheets to said bulkheads.

29. A method of fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure and sides affixed thereto comprising:

placing at least one sheet adjacent the transverse support structure onat least one side thereof;

placing at least one generally vertical guide means spaced from saidtransverse support structure adwith the transverse support structure andis welded thereto.

30. A method according to claim 29 including holding at least onereinforcing member in engagement with said sheet, and welding saidmember to said sheet.

31. A method according to claim 29.including positioning a scaffoldwithin said transverse support structure and regulating the movement ofsaid roller from the scaffold.

32. A method of fabricating-a container having transverse supportstructure'and sides affixed thereto comprising:

placing side sheets adjacent the transverse support structure on eitherside thereof;

placing at least one generally vertical guide means adjacent but spacedfrom said transverse support structure;

tightly pressing at least one roller against the outer side of said sidesheets; I

ing at least one reinforcing member in engagement with said side sheetsand welding the reinforcing member to said side sheets.

34. A method of fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure and sides affixed thereto comprising:

placing side sheets adjacent the transverse support structure on eitherside thereof; placing at least one generally vertical guide meansadjacent but spaced from said transverse support structure;

tightly pressing a roller against the outer side of said sheet;positioning a scaffold within said transverse support structure betweensaid sheets;

regulating the vertical movement of said rollers along said verticalguide means to urge said side sheets into engagement with saidtransverse support structure; holding at least one reinforcing memberagainst said side sheets and welding the reinforcing member to the sidesheet;

and welding at least a portion of the transverse support structure tothe sheet pressed thereagainst, whereby the sheets are folded intoconformity with the transverse support structure and fixed thereto.

35. A method according to claim 29 wherein said container is a wheeledvehicle.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein said wheeled vehicle is arailway car.

1. Apparatus for fabricating the body of a railway hopper car by formingflat side sheets into curved sides and pressing them against transversebulkheads having similarly curved edges during welding, comprising anopen fixed frame structure; means on said structure fOr placing thehoppers and bulkheads of said car in properly aligned and spacedpositions; a plurality of collapsible scaffolds; hoists on said framestructure for positioning said scaffolds between the bulkheads, saidscaffolds being dimensioned to position and hold the bulkheads in place;a plurality of vertical racks along the outside of each side sheet;fluid pressure means for moving the racks inwardly; a carriage on eachrack and a horizontal roller on each carriage; means for moving saidrollers inwardly to press the side sheets against the edges of thebulkheads; means for moving said carriages vertically with the rollerspressed against the side sheets; and means at each scaffold forcontrolling the vertical movement of said carriages; means for pressingside sills on the lower edges of the side sheets against the bulkhead,whereby upon upward movement of the rollers the side sheets are tightlypressed against the curved edges of the bulkheads for welding thereto bya welder on the scaffold.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid rollers are pressed against the side sheets resiliently by airpressure operated means to permit the rollers to yield as they traversethe curved side sheets.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidmeans for moving said racks and rollers, respectively, are capable ofretracting said racks and rollers.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said racks include means for clamping the side sills against thebulkheads.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofsaid racks includes three horizontally aligned rollers, one of saidrollers being opposite a bulkhead, and the others being on either sideof the bulkhead.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidscaffolds include a plurality of pivotally connected members arranged tofold together when lifted by the hoists.
 7. Apparatus for forming arailway hopper car having curved sides from flat sheets having bottomside sills and welding them to transverse bulkheads having similarlycurved edges, comprising an open rectangular fixed frame structure forhousing the hoppers and bulkheads of said car in properly aligned andspaced positions; a plurality of vertical racks along the outside ofeach car side; fluid pressure means for moving the racks inwardly; acarriage on each rack in alignment with each bulkhead and a horizontalroller on each rack; air pressure means for moving said rollers inwardlyto press the side sheets against the curved bulkheads; means for movingsaid carriages vertically with the rollers pressed against the sidesheets; and means for individually controlling the vertical movement ofsaid carriages, whereby upon upward movement of the rollers the carsides are tightly pressed against the curved edges of the bulkheads forwelding thereto.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, including weldersupport means and means for positioning said support means betweenadjacent bulkheads and moving said support means vertically. 9.Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for controlling thevertical movement of the carriages is adjacent said support means foraccessibility to a welder thereon.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9,including fluid pressure actuated clamps at opposite sides of said framestructure and means for actuating said clamps in unison for pressing theside sills into their assemblied position.
 11. A method of fabricatingthe body of a railway hopper car having a plurality of hoppers,bulkheads between the hoppers, and sides which are curved in thevertical direction, comprising placing flat side plates adjacent thebulkheads on either side thereof, each side plate having a side sillalong the bottom edge thereof and a support plate along the top edgethereof, simultaneously clamping the side sills at both sides againstthe bulkheads, tightly pressing a roller against the outer side of aside plate and moving the roller vertically along the edge of a bulkheadwhile welding that bulkhead to the side plate pressed thereagainst,whereby the side plates are folded into conformity with the bulkheadsand fixed thereto.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein threealigned rollers are pressed against the side plates at each bulkhead, afirst of said rollers spanning a bulkhead and the other two rollersbeing located on either side of the first roller.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein said rollers are resiliently pressed against the sideplates.
 14. The method according to claim 11, including the step oflowering scaffolds into the hoppers for supporting welders thereon, themovement of said rollers being controlled individually by the welders onthe scaffolds.
 15. The method according to claim 14, including the stepof holding the bulkheads properly spaced by means of the scaffolds. 16.The method according to claim 15, including the step of collapsing andlifting the scaffolds out of the car body to facilitate its removal. 17.Apparatus for fabricating a container having transverse supportstructure and spaced apart sides comprising: A. frame structure housinggenerally vertical guide means spaced outwardly from said transversestructure on at least one side thereof; B. at least one roller mountedfor vertical movement on at least one of said guide means; C. means formoving said guide means inwardly adjacent said transverse supportstructure; D. means for moving said roller inwardly to press a sheetwhich at least partially defines one of said apaced apart sides intoengagement with a portion of said transverse support structure; E. meansfor moving said roller vertically along said generally vertical guidemeans with said roller pressed against said sheet whereby upon generallyvertical movement of the rollers said sheet is tightly pressed againstsaid transverse support structure; F. and means for welding said sheetto a portion of said transverse support structure.
 18. Apparatusaccording to claim 17 including at least one scaffold mounted forvertical movement within said transverse support structure. 19.Apparatus according to claim 17 including means for holding at least onereinforcing member in engagement with at least one of said sheets. 20.Apparatus according to claim 19 including means for holding at least oneadditional reinforcing member in engagement with at least one of saidsheets.
 21. Apparatus for fabricating a container having transversesupport structure and spaced apart sides comprising: A. frame structurehousing generally vertical guide means spaced outwardly from saidtransverse structure on both sides thereof; B. at least one rollermounted for vertical movement on at least one of said guide means; C.means for moving said guide means inwardly adjacent said transversesupport structure; D. at least one scaffold mounted for verticalmovement within said transverse support structure; E. means for movingsaid roller inwardly to press a sheet which at least partially definesone of said spaced apart sides into engagement with a portion of saidtransverse support structure; F. means for moving said rollersvertically along said generally vertical guide means with said rollerpressed against said sheet whereby upon generally vertical movement ofthe roller said sheet is tightly pressed against said transverse supportstructure; G. and means for welding said sheet to a portion of saidtransverse support structure.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 21including means for holding at least one reinforcing member inengagement with at least one of said sheets.
 23. Apparatus forfabricating a container having transverse support structure with curvededges and spaced apart sides comprising: A. frame structure housinggenerally vertical guide means spaced outwardly from said transversestructure on at least one side thereof; B. at least one roller mountedfor vertical movement on at least one of saiD guide means; C. means formoving said guide means inwardly adjacent said transverse supportstructure; D. means for moving said roller inwardly to press a sheetwhich at least partially defines one of said spaced apart sides intoengagement with at least a portion of at least one of said curved edges;E. means for moving said roller vertically along said generally verticalguide means with said roller pressed against said sheet whereby upongenerally vertical movement of the roller said sheet is tightly pressedagainst at least one of the curved edges on said transverse supportstructure; F. and means for welding said sheet to a portion of saidtransverse support structure.
 24. Apparatus for fabricating a containerhaving transverse support structure and spaced apart sides comprising:A. frame structure housing generally vertical guide means spacedoutwardly from said transverse structure on both sides thereof; B. atleast one roller mounted for vertical movement on at least one of saidguide means; C. means for moving said guide means inwardly adjacent saidtransverse support structure; D. at least one scaffold mounted forvertical movement within said transverse support structure; E. means formoving said roller inwardly to press a sheet which partially defines oneof said spaced apart sides into engagement with a portion of saidtransverse support structure; F. means for urging at least onereinforcing member in engagement with said sheet; G. means for movingsaid roller vertically along said generally vertical guide means withsaid roller pressed against said sheet whereby upon generally verticalmovement of the roller said sheet is tightly pressed against saidtransverse support structure; H. and means for welding said sheet to aportion of said transverse support structure and for welding saidreinforcing member to said sheet.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 23including means for holding at least one additional reinforcing memberin engagement with said sheet and means for welding the same to saidsheet.
 26. Apparatus for fabricating a railway car having curved sidesand transverse bulkheads comprising: A. frame structure housing thebulkheads and side sheets for said car in properly aligned and spacedpositions; B. generally vertical guide means spaced from said bulkheadson at least one side thereof; C. means for moving said guide meansinwardly; D. at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on saidguide means; E. means for moving said roller inwardly to press saidsheets against said bulkheads; F. means for moving said rollervertically, whereby upon generally vertical movement of the roller thecar sides are tightly pressed against the bulkheads for welding thereto.27. Apparatus for fabricating a railway car having curved sides andtransverse bulkheads comprising: A. frame structure housing thebulkheads and side sheets for said car in properly aligned and spacedpositions; B. scaffold means mounted for vertical movement within saidbulkheads; C. generally vertical guide means spaced from said bulkheadson both sides thereof; D. means for moving said guide means inwardly; E.at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on said guide means;F. means for moving said roller inwardly to press said sheets againstsaid bulkheads; G. means for moving said roller vertically, whereby upongenerally vertical movement of the rollers the car sides are tightlypressed against the bulkheads; H. means for moving said scaffoldvertically with said rollers pressed against the side sheets; I. andmeans for individually controlling the vertical movement of saidscaffold whereby upon generally vertical movement of the roller the carsides are tightly pressed against the bulkheads for welding thereto. 28.Apparatus for fabricating a railway car having hoppers, curved sides aNdtransverse bulkheads comprising: A. frame structure housing thebulkheads and side sheets for said car in properly aligned and spacedpositions; B. scaffold means mounted for vertical movement within saidbulkheads; C. generally vertical guide means spaced from said bulkheadson both sides thereof; D. means for moving said guide means inwardly; E.at least one roller mounted for vertical movement on said guide means;F. means for urging at least one support member into engagement withsaid side sheets for welding thereto; G. means for moving said rollersinwardly to press said sheets against said bulkheads; H. means formoving said scaffold means vertically with said rollers pressed againstthe said side sheets; I. means for individually controlling the verticalmovement of said scaffold means, whereby upon generally verticalmovement of the rollers the car sides are tightly pressed against saidbulkheads; J. and means for welding said sheets to said bulkheads.
 29. Amethod of fabricating a container having transverse support structureand sides affixed thereto comprising: placing at least one sheetadjacent the transverse support structure on at least one side thereof;placing at least one generally vertical guide means spaced from saidtransverse support structure adjacent said sheet; tightly pressing aroller against the outer side of said sheet and moving the rollervertically along said guide means to urge said side sheet intoengagement with said transverse support structure while welding at leasta portion of the transverse support structure to the sheet pressedthereagainst, whereby the side sheet is folded into conformity with thetransverse support structure and is welded thereto.
 30. A methodaccording to claim 29 including holding at least one reinforcing memberin engagement with said sheet, and welding said member to said sheet.31. A method according to claim 29 including positioning a scaffoldwithin said transverse support structure and regulating the movement ofsaid roller from the scaffold.
 32. A method of fabricating a containerhaving transverse support structure and sides affixed theretocomprising: placing side sheets adjacent the transverse supportstructure on either side thereof; placing at least one generallyvertical guide means adjacent but spaced from said transverse supportstructure; tightly pressing at least one roller against the outer sideof said side sheets; positioning a scaffold within said transversesupport structure between said sheets and regulating the verticalmovement of said rollers along said guide means to urge said side sheetsinto engagement with said transverse support structure; and welding atleast a portion of the transverse support structure to the sheet pressedthereagainst, whereby the side sheets are folded into conformity withthe transverse support structure and fixed thereto.
 33. A methodaccording to claim 32 including holding at least one reinforcing memberin engagement with said side sheets and welding the reinforcing memberto said side sheets.
 34. A method of fabricating a container havingtransverse support structure and sides affixed thereto comprising:placing side sheets adjacent the transverse support structure on eitherside thereof; placing at least one generally vertical guide meansadjacent but spaced from said transverse support structure; tightlypressing a roller against the outer side of said sheet; positioning ascaffold within said transverse support structure between said sheets;regulating the vertical movement of said rollers along said verticalguide means to urge said side sheets into engagement with saidtransverse support structure; holding at least one reinforcing memberagainst said side sheets and welding the reinforcing member to the sidesheet; and welding at least a portion of the transverse supportstructure to the sheet presSed thereagainst, whereby the sheets arefolded into conformity with the transverse support structure and fixedthereto.
 35. A method according to claim 29 wherein said container is awheeled vehicle.
 36. A method according to claim 35 wherein said wheeledvehicle is a railway car.